Previously I touched on a few common things that SPAM filters look for in all incoming messages. Understanding how these filters work is the first step in learning how to reach your customers and avoid having your good emails deleted along with the bad. One of he big things that can get an email marked as SPAM is content filtering.
Content filtering is when emails can be named as spam based on the words that are in either the email or the subject line. Check your own personal email junk box and see how many of those emails have the word “viagra” in them. That’s content filtering at its finest.
What about spammers who try using clever ways of spelling things. Luckily these filters over time become smarter and smarter. In the past words like “mortgage” and “refinance” would automatically get you filtered. Now these filters will monitor the emails you send to your junk box and adjust themselve to filter out similar content.
How does this affect someone sending emails? Once you are aware of the pitfalls that go into email marketing you will know exactly what to do to reach your loyal customer base. With YourHost.com on your side you can have succesful email marketing campaigns.
How do SPAM filters work? Spam filters are ever changing automated programs that use algorithms (or complex rules) to determine if words are SPAM or not. BTW What does SPAM stand for? -”Stop Pornography and Abusive Marketing Act”. ”
Regarding SPAM the rule is, ”If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck it’s a duck.”, then it probably is SPAM.
The ultimate goal is to understand the classic SPAM triggers are so we as editors and senders can avoid them getting caught in SPAM or Content Filtered Traps (Content Filtering In part II). Some of the most common SPAM triggers are and not limited to; Large Email broadcasts sent from unapproved lists (Opt-In Part III), SPAM Traps, Spam Complaints, sending emails to Unknown email boxes, Subject line words and characters, and Open or incorrect HTML tags (Part III). These are all small pieces to the larger puzzle of inbox delivery, coupled with Content Filtering rules.
Be cautious in changing your quantity of email sending habits known as “Volume Triggers” because you can get BlackListed from this. This is one of the number one important factors to consider when sending newsletters. As the volume of emails grows major ISP’s use volume triggers to keep monitor the senders activities. Even if a sender were to get white listed, if they sent 500 emails one month and then sent 50,000 the following month, the ISP’s filter would be alarmed and your emails might get blocked or throtttled (seriously delayed).
Spammers have developed programs that can electronically crawl the internet and look for exposed email addresses in the HTML content, especially in Forms. As a defense for this major ISP’s have what they call SPAM traps. Most companies, like Gmail and Hotmail, who offer email addresses require that they be checked on a regular basis. When a subscriber cancels their service or does not log in for an extended period of time the email service provider will take that email address and turn it into a spam trap. Providers will also at times make email addresses for the soul purpose of using it as a spam trap. Sending mail to a spam trap will automaticaly hurt your ability to mail to that particular ISP. You could even get Blacklisted.
Some website have places where the visitor is forced to put in an email address. In these situations more often that not the visitor to that website will protect their information by entering a fake email address. I know this because i do it all the time. If you send to an email address that is not valid you will receive a permanent bounce. Those are known as unknown users and mail sent to them can get you put on an ISP’s blacklist.
It is very important to keep a clean list. I have spoken about list hygiene in the past. It really can make a huge difference in how your email marketing campaign performs and is something that should always be kept in mind.
